Will Digital India prove too costly for gram panchayats?

The Union government’s much publicised Digital India programme, under which gram panchayat offices are provided with high-speed internet facility through fibre cable, has attracted objections regarding tariff. Several gram panchayats and officers of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department have pointed out that the monthly charges fixed for the facility are too high for gram panchayats to bear.

Under the Fibre to The Home (FTTH) programme, gram panchayats are provided high speed (ranging from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps) internet facility. The minimum cost under this scheme is Rs. 3,999 per month (10 Mbps with up to 50 GB data).

“We have completed laying fibre network and other technical works for 233 of the 258 gram panchayats in Hassan district. We are ready to provide connection to these panchayats, if the officers concerned agree. The BSNL is providing this service by spending more than Rs. 15 crore in Hassan district,” said K.M. Shetty, general manager, BSNL, on Tuesday. So far, no gram panchayat has taken the connection in the district.

Mr. Shetty said there were some objections regarding the price package. “BSNL has spent huge money on this project. We can provide net facility for individual customers, besides gram panchayats. However, the tariff will be the same. Laying fibre is quite expensive. We have spent almost Rs. 200 to lay one metre of fibre cable,” he said.

The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department has also not yet decided on the price. R. Venkatesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Hassan Zilla Panchayat, on Tuesday, told The Hindu , “We have not yet decided on the tariff package. BSNL has announced high-end packages minimum with 10 mbps speed, and up to 50 GB data. Our officers are working out how much data we require. Much of our work is related to entering data. Should we go for such high-end packages just for that? We will decide on the package soon,” he said.

Some GPs lack funds to meet their expenses related to basic amenities like water and cleaning. Even if all 258 gram panchayats of Hassan district go for the basic package under FTTH , the RDPR would end up paying over Rs. 10 lakh every month. So far, Hassan Zilla Panchayat has not yet decided modalities to clear the bill.

Dear readers, please share your views and opinions about these new attractive offers by BSNL via comments with us. Join us on Facebook